Tim Fite, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant: The 20 best albums of 2007

The Grammys had its say a couple of weeks ago, and before this site becomes overloaded with Grammy prediction and analysis, it's time for every music fan and critic to chime in on the year's best albums.

The Recording Academy did not have a vote in this list, but it's worth nothing that there is one album of the year nod in my Top 20. However, a total of 10 Grammy-nominated artists are listed below.

1. Tim Fite, “Over the Counter Culture” (www.timfite.com)
Fite comes off as a folksy activist masquerading as a hip-hop artist, and delivered the working man’s reaction to an increasingly confusing political and cultural climate.

2. Mavis Staples, “We’ll Never Turn Back” (Anti-)
Staples’ faith never wavers, but the singer (pictured) paints a striking picture of the present by finding inspiration in the freedom songs of the ‘60s.

3. M.I.A. “Kala” (Interscope)
A dance/hip-hop record that skips from continent to continent, creating an intense exploration of sound.

4. Kanye West, “Graduation”
Even as he consistently challenges himself with unexpected beats, it’s West’s storytelling that makes the lasting impression.

5. LCD Soundsystem, ”Sound of Silver” (DFA/Capitol)
Producer/DJ James Murphy opens his heart with a bit of punk, a whole lot of disco, and a dose of sarcasm.

6. Spoon, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (Merge)
Ten irresistible rock ’n’ soul tunes, each deserving to be a hit.

7. Radiohead, “In Rainbows” (www.inrainbows.com)
From a pure cultural standpoint, it was arguably the year’s most important album. Musically, Radiohead toned down the weirdness, and created a warmer, more personal album, and its best since 1997’s “OK Computer.”

8. Bettye LaVette, “The Scene of the Crime” (Anti-)
With the Drive-By Truckers at her side, LaVette traffics in the kind of dive-bar soul that could make one hope sunrise never comes.

9. Ben Weasel & His Iron String Quartet, “These Ones are Bitter” (Mendoto Recording Co.)
An absolute master at crafting a melody, Weasel created a punk rock breakup record from the point-of-view of someone who’s had a few too many breakups.

10. Miranda Lambert, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (Columbia)
“The good ones all got wedding rings, and the young ones are just too dumb.” Lambert offers plenty of such pint-raising lyrical hooks throughout her sophomore album, one that sees this scorcher of a singer coming-of-age with a love-hate relationship with rural America.

11. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, “Raising Sand’ (Rounder)
Two of the music community’s greatest voices come together for a downright haunting country effort.

12. El-P, “I’ll Sleep When You're Dead” (Definitive Jux)
A fascinating yet disturbing vision of the near future –- a sci-fi-infused hip-hop record that plays out like an answer to last year’s film, “Children of Men.”

13. Modest Mouse, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank” (Epic)
An even stronger record than the band’s breakthrough, 2004’s “Good News for People Who Love Bad News,” with its grand rock ’n’ roll arrangements alternating between the demented and beautiful.

14. Tori Amos, “American Doll Posse” (Epic)
The pianist turns in the liveliest, most ambitious record of her career, its expansive 23 songs a worthwhile journey through musical styles and personas.

15. Jay-Z, “American Gangster” (Roc-A-Fella)
An absolutely astounding achievement in terms of production, and Jay-Z returns to form by toning down the boasting and just telling stories.

16. Qui, “Loves Miracle” (Ipecac)
A hardcore noise band learning that guitar experimentation isn’t everything, and finding some lovely melodies in one of the most unexpected of places: the vocals of former Jesus Lizard singer David Yow.

17. White Stripes, “Icky Thump” (Warner Bros.)
Forever rooted in classic rock and blues, the White Stripes specializes in making the old sound completely new, and it’s never sounded as fresh as it does here.

18. Battles, “Mirrored” (Warp)
A prog band for the digital age, where mixes of guitars and keyboards sound locked in improvisation with a host of laptops -- and the most curious vocals recorded this year.

19. The Shins, “Wincing the Night Away” (Sub Pop)
A sly guitar-pop record that slowly reveals its secrets -- and one that is filled with tension and weirdness just below its seemingly pretty surface.

20. The Besnard Lakes, “The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse,” (Jagjaguwar)
Transfixing harmonies and the smashing vocal work of Jace Lasek drift through a haze created by three guitarists, as the Besnard Lakes bring a slightly trippy approach to classic guitar rock.

Five more: Fall Out Boy’s “Infinity On High,” Wilco’s “Sky Blue Sky,” the Mekons’ “Natural,” Common’s “Finding Forever” and Art Brut’s “It’s a Bit Complicated.”

(Staples photo courtesy www.mavisstaples.com; Plant/Krauss courtesy Rounder Records)

Comments

[rock fan]

The one album that should be listed is john mayers new one

[Robin]

Nice list. This one should have been in the paper.